Tubman Center staff told the Seattle City Council select budget committee on Oct. 28 that they have raised more than half of a $42 million project to open a third clinic and asked councilmembers to include a full $6,000,000 allocation in the final budget.

Elizabeth Mack, identified as a nurse practitioner at Tubman Center for Health and Freedom, told the committee the organization is building the infrastructure to advance "health justice and thriving communities" and that the requested $6 million would support the neighborhood improvement project and the centers third clinic.

Why it matters: Tubman serves primarily South Seattle neighborhoods some speakers described as long-underserved and in need of accessible, culturally concordant primary care. Council funding would leverage other philanthropic and private donations already raised for the project.

What the Tubman leaders told council: Denisha Jefferson Abbey, the Tubman Center COO and founder, told the committee the center has already opened two clinics since 2020, is delivering services citywide, and that the neighborhood improvement project would expand services and infrastructure in South Seattle. "We respectfully ask that you include the full $6,000,000 project in the final budget so together we can bring this generational project for health, safety, and belonging to life," she said.

Next steps: The committee will review budget requests this week; inclusion of Tubmans $6 million request depends on the chairs balancing package and final council votes.

Speakers quoted are from the meeting public comment; the committee did not vote on the request at the Oct. 28 session.